Local criminal prosecution of Indianapolis police officers is rare, but the exact frequency is difficult to ascertain because the prosecutor's office does not record thenumber of officers prosecuted.53 According to Chief Zunk, on average just one Indianapolis police officer each year is criminally prosecuted.54 When questioned about the effect on other officers when a fellow officer is arrested or convicted, the chief responded that this "obviously has an effect on other members of the department, just as the arrest of a family member would have on anyone else."55 Prosecution of officers on federal criminal civil rights charges is also rare.

In 1996, of the twelve cases decided by federal prosecutors for the federal district containing Indianapolis (Southern District of Indiana) none was prosecuted (presented to a grand jury to seek an indictment).56 Between 1992 and 1995, sixty-nine cases were considered, and five were prosecuted.

56According to data obtained by TRAC from the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys, Justice Department. Cases prosecuted or declined represent only a portion of the total number of complaints alleging federal criminal civil rights violations in each district in a given year. Several steps prior to this decision narrow down the number of complaints actually received to those considered worthy of consideration.